About Us
The mission of Sustainable Alachua County is to provide education and civic participation opportunities that enhance the sustainability and healthy functioning of our environmental, social/cultural, and economic systems. Founded in 1996, SAC, an incorporated 501 (c)(3) non-profit, public interest organization, welcomes all residents of Alachua County as members.
Sustainable Alachua County’s Goals
In keeping with our mission and principles, Sustainable Alachua County will use both process and action approaches to achieve the following goals over the next five years:
- To educate and involve citizens, businesses, and government entities on issues of sustainable development;
- To bring together individuals through forums to listen to each other’s viewpoints;
- To disseminate research, reports, and documentation related to sustainability issues to the public and community leaders;
- To assist the community in creating a climate that fosters sustainable living values;
- To facilitate the development and analysis of new information relating to Alachua County community and environmental issues and interests.
Sustainable Alachua County’s Principles
Principle 1 - Health and the environment
Ensure that every person enjoys the benefits of clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment at home, at work, and at play, and further ensure every person access to an effective health care delivery system.
Principle 2 - Economic prosperity
Achieve a healthy local economy that develops an adequate number of meaningful, living wage jobs, decreases poverty, and provides the opportunities for a high quality of life in our local economy within an increasingly competitive global economy.
Principle 3 - Equity
Ensure that all are afforded justice and have the opportunity to achieve economic, environmental, and social well-being.
Principle 4 - Conservation of nature
Use, conserve, protect, and restore natural systems and resources - land, air, water, energy, and biodiversity - in ways that help ensure long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits for ourselves and future generations.
Principle 5 - Stewardship
Create a widely held ethic of stewardship that values diversity and strongly encourages individuals, institutions, and corporations to take full responsibility for the economic, environmental, and social consequences of their actions.
Principle 6 - Civic engagement
Create full opportunity for citizens, businesses, and communities to participate in and influence the natural resource, environmental, and economic decisions that affect them, while ensuring that each geographic and socio-economic sector bears costs and impacts equitably.
Principle 7 - Capital
Create facilities, and produce and purchase products, based on long-term environmental and operating costs, and find ways to include environmental and social costs in short-term prices. Establish economic measures of the value of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Principle 8 - Education
Ensure that all citizens have equal access to education, culture, and lifelong learning opportunities that will prepare them for meaningful work, a high quality of life, and an understanding of the concepts involved in sustainable development.
Principle 9 - Communication and Culture
Foster a cultural climate that provides opportunities for a full range of entertainment, creative expression, artistic experience, and modes of communication.
Principle 10 - Agriculture
To define, develop, and promote local systems to foster a diverse and sustainable agriculture, protect farmland and the rural environment, and establish food security and a high standard of nutrition for the entire community.
Principle 11 - Land Use
Create land use patterns that promote a walkable community, minimize sprawl, preserve natural resources, preserve regional identity, and provide appropriate locations for community services and industry.
Principle 12 - Transportation
Provide transportation choices: car, bus, bicycle and walking. Increase the efficiency of existing transportation resources. Create transportation which supports neighborhoods, protects the environment, and enhances the mobility of all ages and incomes.
